Funday was welcome boost for Reds’ profile

13:45, 12 April 2012

ByManchester Evening News

A traditional Bank Holiday downpour and defeat to Hull KR couldn’t dampen the atmosphere at Salford City Reds Family Funday, organised by the Salford Advertiser and the Manchester Evening News. Celebrities, including stars from Coronation Street and Shaun Ryder of newly-reformed Happy Mondays, together with radio presenter Mike Sweeney, mingled with the higher than expected crowd of 5,100.

A traditional Bank Holiday downpour and defeat to Hull KR couldn’t dampen the atmosphere at Salford City Reds Family Funday, organised by the Salford Advertiser and the Manchester Evening News.

Celebrities, including stars from Coronation Street and Shaun Ryder of newly-reformed Happy Mondays, together with radio presenter Mike Sweeney, mingled with the higher than expected crowd of 5,100.

Around 1,000 fans took advantage of the ticket deal to attract more families to Super League.

Salford City Reds chairman John Wilkinson said: "We have had a long and fruitful partnership with the MEN.

"It’s great that the newspaper has recognised what we are doing here at our new Salford City Stadium and how we’re building our supporter base.

"Sale Sharks are now sharing our new facility which is in a great part of Salford close to the motorway and the Trafford Centre.

"I was speaking to some fans who told me that they had come from Hull and made a day of it going in the shopping complex and them coming to the game.

"We are looking to get our crowd up to an average of 8,000 and it is initiatives like this that will help us achieve this.

"We have been trying for 10 years to get a stadium like this to replace the Willows and now we have it we want everyone to enjoy what is on offer."

To help boost the Easter Monday crowd stadium officials arranged face-painting and a fairground.

Salford Council also provided goody bags for youngsters whose families had taken up the MEN deal.

Reds chief executive Dave Tarry said: "The weather has been bad but this was an exceptional offer and we are delighted that the regional profile of the club has been raised."

Happy Mondays frontman Ryder was at the new stadium with his wife Joanne and children.

He said that rugby was a big part of his family life growing up, with his grandfather and uncles big fans, and his brother Paul a keen player.

"This is a great venue," he said. "I’ve watched it being built as I pass by nearly every day.

"It’ll be great for the area, though I reckon they should change the name from Dumplington!"

The singer, who won a new legion of fans in 2010 when we was runner-up to singer Stacey Solomon in ‘I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!’, added: "I used to go to the old ground sometimes, though I spent more time in the bar.

"The only thing here is, you can’t smoke on the terraces, so I might have to defy that!"

Real Radio’s Sweeney is a big Reds fan.

He added: "I’m from Ordsall and I did a gig with just about every band going at one time or another at the Willows from 1967 until last year.

"I know the chairman John well and he had a dream to build this place 15 years ago, so it’s taken a while to get off the ground, but he’s done it, and it’s absolutely amazing.

"I think it’ll bring more people from Salford and Greater Manchester into rugby league, and it’s great that Sale Sharks are going to be playing here too.

"It’s all about pragmatism. Sharing the ground will bring an extra revenue stream in, and that has to be good for the club and the area."

Emmerdale’s Kelvin Fletcher, who plays hot-headed farmer Andy Sugden, joined Sweeney and Ryder with a pre-match interview broadcast to the crowd.

"I’ve always had a soft spot for Salford, and I think it’s great what John, the chairman, has done.

"He’s made it a real community place and good for families to come to."

Mikey North, who plays Gary Windass in Corrie, was at the match with his dad.

He said: "I guess I should have divided loyalties now I’m in Coronation Street and live on the edge of Salford, but I don’t," he laughed.

"I’m a Rovers fan through and through! But I’m really impressed with the stadium."

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